Union High School in La Porte City where the district's offices are located. TELEGRAPH FILE PHOTO

LA PORTE CITY – Union Community School District’s fall 2026 FAST (Formative Assessment System for Teachers) assessment results show improvements across schools and grade levels, along with consistent district-wide performance in literacy and math.

At DG Elementary, 92% of third graders met the literacy benchmark, the grade level’s highest percentage in more than a decade. At LPC Elementary, 89% of third graders met the math benchmark, the highest percentage among all grade levels district-wide.

Union Middle School’s literacy results increased to 69%, up from 65% in 2023, while DG Elementary improved to 72%, compared with 69% last fall. At LPC Elementary, 80% of students met the math benchmark, up from 77% in 2024.

All third graders improved 13 percentage points in math compared with their second grade results, while second graders improved 12 percentage points in literacy compared with their first grade results.

District-wide, 71% of students met the literacy benchmark, matching the previous two years and exceeding the 69% recorded in 2023. In math, 77% met the benchmark, matching last year’s results.

“These assessments help us better understand student learning and make informed instructional decisions,” Curriculum Director Corindy Stoakes said. “We are pleased with the progress students are demonstrating, particularly from one grade level to the next, and will continue using this information to support their success.”

The district will use FAST results alongside other measures of learning to guide instruction and identify opportunities for continued growth.

“We are encouraged by these results and the continued progress we are seeing across our schools,” Superintendent John Howard said. “Our students and staff work hard every day, and these results reflect their commitment to continuous improvement.”